Wednesday, December 15
Conway, SC
8:00 a.m.
Saint Mary's College of California
61
at
58
Coastal Carolina
Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
WBB | Buzzer Beater by Wedin Gives Gaels 61-58 Win
12/15/2021 12:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CONWAY, S.C. - Taycee Wedin hit a buzzer-beating three pointer at the top of the key to break a 58-58 tie for a 61-58 victory over Coastal Carolina University on Wednesday afternoon in South Carolina. The Gaels handed CCU their first loss of the season (8-1) while improving to 6-4 on the year in SMC's first ever meeting against the Chanticleers. It was Saint Mary's first time playing a team from the Sun Belt Conference since December of 2018 when they hosted Texas State, and it was Coast Carolina's first match up against a WCC team in their program's history.
SECOND QUARTER SURGE
The opening quarter was fairly evenly matched between the two teams, except the Gaels were just 1 for 8 from three-point range compared to the Chants 3 for 5. But the Gaels would change that quickly in the second quarter as Makena Mastora hit a three pointer to start the scoring in the second frame. After Tayla Dalton weaved through traffic for a layup, Taycee Wedin would hit a three pointer. That would be followed by six-straight points from Ali Bamberger and a Wedin jumper in the paint before Mastora hit another three to cap off a 16-0 run by Saint Mary's
Madeline Holland would hit her secon three pointer of the game to put Saint Mary's up by their largest lead of the day at 12 points. The Gaels finished the half on a 19-3 run and took a 10-point lead into the half at 34-24. Saint Mary's went 4 of 9 from downtown and 8 of 14 from the floor in the second quarter while CCU was 0 for 4 from three and 2 of 16 from the field. The Gaels outscored the Chants 22-5 in the second quarter, had eight assists on their eight baskets, and kept CCU scoreless for over seven minutes, as their ball movement and defense sparked the run.
FRIGID FOURTH
After a Dalton three pointer just over a minute into the third quarter, the second half felt similar to the first. The Chants out rebounded the Gaels 13-6 and were 6 of 8 from the free throw line, while the Gaels didn't shoot any free throws in the third and CCU cut the Gaels lead to three at 49-46 going into the fourth.
The Chants would tie the game at 49-49 just 20 seconds into the fourth before Hannah Rapp hit a three from the wing to reclaim the lead at 52-49 with 7:24 left to play. A Bamberger layup got the lead back up to five points, but the Gaels would go cold from there and didn't score a field goal for over six minutes. They would however do just enough from the free throw line to stay afloat and played very well defensively to keep the Chants from pulling away.
COMING UP CLUTCH
Saint Mary's also had five offensive rebounds in the quarter to just one by Coastal Carolina, with the biggest offensive board of the game courtesy of Rapp with just 16 seconds left to play. Rapp would be fouled on the rebound and hit both of her ensuing free throws to put the Gaels up 58-57. A touch foul was called on Bamberger on the other end and it sent the Chants leading scorer, Aja Blount, to the line. She led the Sun Belt Conference in free-throw percentage the last two seasons, but only hit the front end of her two attempts and Wedin grabbed the rebound off the miss with the game tied at 58-58 and 12 seconds remaining.
The Gaels inbounded the ball in the front court and swung the ball around, eventually getting it to Wedin with three seconds left after the fourth pass of the possession. The Chants defenders were glued to the Gaels top shooter, but Wedin created some space with a behind-the-back dribble. She raised up to shoot off just her right foot and fired a two-handed push shot to the basket that hit nothing but net as time expired and she fell to the ground. The Gaels rushed the court to celebrate, but the officials had to review the shot to make sure she got it off in time. A brief review confirmed the basket was good and the Gaels could then truly celebrate their 61-58 victory.
TOP PERFORMERS
Four Gaels scored in double figures, with Bamberger and Holland leading the way with 12 points each, and they were the team's top rebounders with Bamberger grabbing eight boards and Holland with six. Holland was also the team leader in assists with five on the afternoon. Dalton and Wedin each finished with 11 points to round out the group of Gaels in double figures scoring.
Though the turnovers were even in the game, Saint Mary's scored 19 points off the Chants turnovers to just eight points for CCU off Gaels turnovers. SMC shot 38% from the field compared to 35% for Coastal Carolina and hit one more three pointer than the Chanticleers, which proved to be the difference in the game.
UP NEXT
The Gaels return to the Bay Area as they'll take on the Cal Bears in Berkeley on Tuesday, December 21 at 1:00 p.m.
SECOND QUARTER SURGE
The opening quarter was fairly evenly matched between the two teams, except the Gaels were just 1 for 8 from three-point range compared to the Chants 3 for 5. But the Gaels would change that quickly in the second quarter as Makena Mastora hit a three pointer to start the scoring in the second frame. After Tayla Dalton weaved through traffic for a layup, Taycee Wedin would hit a three pointer. That would be followed by six-straight points from Ali Bamberger and a Wedin jumper in the paint before Mastora hit another three to cap off a 16-0 run by Saint Mary's
Madeline Holland would hit her secon three pointer of the game to put Saint Mary's up by their largest lead of the day at 12 points. The Gaels finished the half on a 19-3 run and took a 10-point lead into the half at 34-24. Saint Mary's went 4 of 9 from downtown and 8 of 14 from the floor in the second quarter while CCU was 0 for 4 from three and 2 of 16 from the field. The Gaels outscored the Chants 22-5 in the second quarter, had eight assists on their eight baskets, and kept CCU scoreless for over seven minutes, as their ball movement and defense sparked the run.
FRIGID FOURTH
After a Dalton three pointer just over a minute into the third quarter, the second half felt similar to the first. The Chants out rebounded the Gaels 13-6 and were 6 of 8 from the free throw line, while the Gaels didn't shoot any free throws in the third and CCU cut the Gaels lead to three at 49-46 going into the fourth.
The Chants would tie the game at 49-49 just 20 seconds into the fourth before Hannah Rapp hit a three from the wing to reclaim the lead at 52-49 with 7:24 left to play. A Bamberger layup got the lead back up to five points, but the Gaels would go cold from there and didn't score a field goal for over six minutes. They would however do just enough from the free throw line to stay afloat and played very well defensively to keep the Chants from pulling away.
COMING UP CLUTCH
Saint Mary's also had five offensive rebounds in the quarter to just one by Coastal Carolina, with the biggest offensive board of the game courtesy of Rapp with just 16 seconds left to play. Rapp would be fouled on the rebound and hit both of her ensuing free throws to put the Gaels up 58-57. A touch foul was called on Bamberger on the other end and it sent the Chants leading scorer, Aja Blount, to the line. She led the Sun Belt Conference in free-throw percentage the last two seasons, but only hit the front end of her two attempts and Wedin grabbed the rebound off the miss with the game tied at 58-58 and 12 seconds remaining.
The Gaels inbounded the ball in the front court and swung the ball around, eventually getting it to Wedin with three seconds left after the fourth pass of the possession. The Chants defenders were glued to the Gaels top shooter, but Wedin created some space with a behind-the-back dribble. She raised up to shoot off just her right foot and fired a two-handed push shot to the basket that hit nothing but net as time expired and she fell to the ground. The Gaels rushed the court to celebrate, but the officials had to review the shot to make sure she got it off in time. A brief review confirmed the basket was good and the Gaels could then truly celebrate their 61-58 victory.
TOP PERFORMERS
Four Gaels scored in double figures, with Bamberger and Holland leading the way with 12 points each, and they were the team's top rebounders with Bamberger grabbing eight boards and Holland with six. Holland was also the team leader in assists with five on the afternoon. Dalton and Wedin each finished with 11 points to round out the group of Gaels in double figures scoring.
Though the turnovers were even in the game, Saint Mary's scored 19 points off the Chants turnovers to just eight points for CCU off Gaels turnovers. SMC shot 38% from the field compared to 35% for Coastal Carolina and hit one more three pointer than the Chanticleers, which proved to be the difference in the game.
UP NEXT
The Gaels return to the Bay Area as they'll take on the Cal Bears in Berkeley on Tuesday, December 21 at 1:00 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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